The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-10-21
THE AMENDMENT PROPOSITION.

The roposition to amend the Consti-
tuition of the United States by adopting
clause forbidding polygamy is being
generally discussed by the press of the
country, and faVorably received by
many newspapers which are able to
speak of the Mormons without going
mad. 1t is quite probable that the
"Utak problem" will be left for solution
in this way sIntelligent persons should
begin to understand that there can be
no permanent or satisfactory adjust
ment of the question involved until the
people themselves settle it. AS soon as
the country realizes that after all that
can be done in. the matter by outside in
reference the solution must be left to the
people interested, there will be DISPOSE
ton to "unlosd" as soon as possible, and
thereby hasten the adjustment. The
Constitutional amendment offers the
easiest and quickest way out, and we
may therefore expect it will be advo-
Gated by those who are really DESTROYS
for a solution of a problem which has
been puzzling the nation for a quarter
of a century.
The Springfield (Ill.) State Register
thus speaks editoriaily of the amend
ment scheme:
Hon Randolph Tucker, of Virginia, who,
as a member OF the judiciary committee of
the last House, was more intimately con-
nected with Mormon legislation than any
other man, has recently been talking about
the ali Constitutional convention and the
best method of wiping out polygamy; In
order to do this he would not keep Utah per
petually in Territorial condition, for that
would be contrary to the genius of our In
an offense TO the principles of Anglo |
American liberty. The only other |
course to be pursued, he thiaks, is to |
adopt the Constitutional amendment re-
ported by the judiciary Committee of the
house in 1885, and which, for lack OF time, |
could not be acted upon. The amendment. |
he is certain, would have passed the house |
If it had come to vote. 1t proposes to |
make polygamy crime everywhere in the |
Union In States and Territories; q crime |
is a crime against tie Union, and as mon
archical government Ia forbidden to every |
State. It proposes to give Jurisdiction TO
the courts of the United States to try this |
by law The punishment thereof. But lest
this should be misconstrued into giving
Congress power over the question of mar
rage and Yorce In the States, the amend
ne n; proposed excludes such construction
by clear and emphatic language. II this
be adopted, Utah may be ad-
mitted at once, and polygamy can never be
revived in that State or anywhere else. The
minority of tae Utah Commission, General
and Hon. A. B. Carlton, favor
this amendment, and we think 1t must come
into favor with ali true friends ofrepu biican
government. It seems to be the one prRcd
cal and lawful plan for dealing with the
polygsmy abominRtion ana at the same time
leaving the people of Utah free to manage
their own affairs, unhsmpered by Federal
interference. There are those who will OPP
pose this proposjtiOn-those who have so
little appreciation of republican government
that they would have States governed by
Federal force, as long as that force might be-
employed to uphold their peculiar idea of
the eternal fitness of things" IF these
people could have their way, every Southern
StSte where the people persisted in voting
the Democratic ticket, would to-day be
governed from Washington, but the gov
erning power would not, of course. be Mr..
Cleveland These people call themselves
Republican," They are "rebels," of
course, as much 30 as the meu of the South
who in 1861 endeayored to bring about
of the Union.